It may seem as if the vegetable growing season is drawing to a close but take a closer look at how to vegetable garden in October and you will see that although the vegetable winter season approaches there are still many things to do in the vegetable garden. 

To begin with vegetable care tips, the harvesting of crops continues while gardeners in milder regions will still be sowing seeds. This is a good opportunity to begin to clear and clean plots ready for the winter and begin vegetable garden planning for next year.

Tomatoes

Now is the time to dig up any remaining outdoor tomatoes plants. For those vegetable gardeners with a greenhouse take the plants into the shelter of the house and hang them upside down to enable the fruits to ripen. For those with no greenhouse you have the option of picking the fruit and putting them in a shoe box with a banana to speed ripening or use them green in chutneys. 

Broad Beans

Broad Beans can be sown in situ if you live in a mild region and over wintered by covering the trench with fleece or cloches to provide insulation.

Peas

Once again for those gardening in milder regions sow peas in cold frames. But do remember that mice will be foraging for extra food for the winter so take extra precautions to protect your crop.

Carrots Vegetable Growing Tips

For milder climate gardeners the option is open to sow carrots in cold frames. An alternative method is to have a deep box which can be constructed easily from scrap timber and filled with compost. Sow the carrot seed and move the box into the greenhouse or shelter before any real winter weather begins.

Spring Cabbage

A very popular green vegetable so plant out spring cabbages this month. It is essential to cover your crop with netting or fleece to deter pigeons as they can devastate your crop.

Celery

Make sure that you earth up plants of trench celery so that just the top is showing. Cardboard can be used to achieve the same result. 

If you are growing a self-blanching celery variety harvest before the first frosts as these are not as hardy as the trench varieties. 

Squashes and Pumpkins

Harvest squashes and pumpkins when ripe. Store them in a cool, dry, dark place after letting the skins harden by leaving them in the sun, greenhouse or garage.

Asparagus

If you did not cut back your asparagus foliage and mulch around the plants during September then this should be done in October.

If you are planning to add an asparagus bed to your vegetable garden prepare now by digging in organic matter and grit for added drainage. Plant up in the spring. 

Root Vegetable Storage

Remember to check crops carefully and only store healthy root crops, this includes carrots, beetroot and potatoes. 

Leave parsnips in situ as frosting will improve the flavour. 

Runner Beans

Probably the last picking of Runner Beans in October as remaining beans will be tough and stringy.

Onions and Garlic Vegetable Growing

For an early crop next year plant autumn onion sets now. 

Start garlic in containers or modules and plant out when more mature.

Sprouts

To prevent grey mould problems remove yellowing leaves from Brussels Sprouts.

Digging Over the Vegetable Garden

October is normally not that warm but at the same time not too cold so take the opportunity to dig over areas of the vegetable garden where crops have been cleared.

Vegetable Garden Hygiene

Whether it is your allotment or vegetable patch at home it is best to remove all plant debris to lessen the risk of spreading disease.